How I Would Get Organized If I Were a Student Again

TL;DR

Store all college notes in one place using Notion, structured as one page per subject with one database per semester when needed.

Briefing Cornell Notes

Briefing

A simple two-tool system—Notion for class notes and TickTick for assignments and scheduling—can replace years of scattered notebooks, calendars, and task apps with one searchable knowledge base and one calendar-driven workflow. The core idea is that college learning isn’t isolated by semester or subject: concepts connect, and students need a single place to store “breadcrumbs” so they can quickly revisit earlier ideas later in internships, jobs, and future study.

For notes, Notion is positioned as the hub. The recommended structure is one page per subject, with separate databases inside that page for each semester when a subject spans multiple terms. Each database uses a small set of properties to make retrieval and review automatic: a Date field to log when notes were taken (useful for comparing with classmates and finding what was covered), a Name field for the main chapter or idea, and a Select field that labels each note set as Easy, Medium, or Hard. That difficulty label isn’t just descriptive—it’s meant to drive a review loop so hard material gets revisited until it becomes easy by exam time.

Inside each subject page, the notes are organized with a table of contents that updates as headings are added. The workflow starts with a free-form writing pass during or right after class, then a second pass after class to edit, add callouts, and insert images or supporting materials. The table-of-contents approach is treated as a learning tool: building it forces students to understand how topics relate instead of treating notes as isolated chunks. When it’s time to study without staring at a screen, the notes can be exported from Notion to a PDF (with suggested scaling around 70%) and printed into a binder as a lightweight study guide.

For assignments and time management, Notion is described as a weak fit because it lacks a strong integrated calendar for task planning. Instead, TickTick is recommended as the task engine. The setup begins with two folders—Personal and College—then a class list for each course. When a class is no longer relevant, completed items are archived rather than deleted to keep the system clean. Three tags—Class, Study, and Assignments—are used to label recurring class events, scheduled study sessions, and syllabus items like assignments and final exams. The calendar view and recurring scheduling functions are central, including marking class events across the entire semester.

Personal routines (wake time, bedtime, lunch) are added as recurring events to reveal open blocks. Those gaps become self-appointed study sessions, and the schedule should be adapted to how quickly a student can focus and memorize—not forced into a one-size-fits-all template. Consistency matters, but so does respecting the plan enough to actually create time for weekly review and preparation. The result is a semester system that keeps readings, tasks, and notes accessible across laptop, phone, and tablet—reducing the need to juggle binders and multiple apps.

Finally, the transcript adds a practical caveat: only add complexity after the basic system works. Optional upgrades include logging other personal events and refining tags (online vs. in-person, reading vs. written assignments). The overall message is that organization comes from a repeatable structure—notes that can be retrieved and tasks that can be scheduled—rather than from chasing a perfect productivity app.

Cornell Notes

The system pairs Notion and TickTick to organize college life with minimal complexity: Notion stores searchable class notes, while TickTick runs the calendar-based assignment and study schedule. Notion is structured as one page per subject, with databases inside for each semester, using Date, Name, and an Easy/Medium/Hard Select label to drive review until difficult material becomes easy by exam time. Notes are written freely, then edited after class with headings that auto-generate a table of contents to strengthen understanding of how ideas connect. TickTick handles tasks because Notion’s calendar integration is considered insufficient; it uses folders (Personal/College), class lists, tags (Class/Study/Assignments), and recurring events to plan the semester. The schedule should fit the student’s real focus and memory pace, with weekly review built into open time blocks.

How should class notes be structured in Notion so they stay useful across semesters and later work?

Use one Notion page per subject. Inside each subject page, create one database per semester when the subject spans multiple terms. Each database should include a Date property (when the class notes were taken), a Name property (the main chapter subject or idea), and a Select property with three categories: Easy, Medium, or Hard. This setup makes it easy to retrieve what was learned when, and it supports a review workflow where notes move from Hard toward Easy as they get revisited.

What is the purpose of labeling notes as Easy/Medium/Hard, and how does it affect studying?

The Easy/Medium/Hard Select label acts as a study trigger. As review happens, the difficulty rating should be updated—especially moving items from Hard to Easy. The goal is that by final exams, every line of relevant material has effectively been worked through enough times to be categorized as Easy, turning the label into a practical checklist for what still needs attention.

Why does the transcript recommend building a table of contents inside each subject’s notes?

Headings inserted into the notes automatically populate a table of contents, which helps students see how topics and ideas connect rather than treating notes as isolated entries. The process of creating headings and organizing sections is framed as productive learning work: it forces understanding of relationships among concepts while also improving navigation later.

Why is TickTick recommended over Notion for managing assignments?

TickTick is recommended because Notion is described as “pretty terrible at managing tasks” due to lacking a strong integrated calendar system. TickTick’s calendar view and recurring scheduling are treated as fundamental for planning classes and study sessions, and its Focus time can be tied directly to tasks so study timers don’t require a separate app.

What does a basic TickTick setup look like for a semester?

Create two folders: Personal and College. Under College, create a list for each class. Use tags—Class, Study, and Assignments—to mark recurring class events and to label scheduled study sessions and syllabus items like assignments and final exams. Add personal routine blocks (wake time, bedtime, lunch) as recurring events first, then schedule study sessions into the remaining open space.

Review Questions

What Notion properties are recommended for each semester database, and how does each property support retrieval or studying?
How does the system use recurring events and tags in TickTick to plan both classes and study time?
What rule does the transcript give about changing the schedule, and what does it say to do if a student can’t study everything during the week?

Key Points

1
Store all college notes in one place using Notion, structured as one page per subject with one database per semester when needed.
2
Use Date, Name, and an Easy/Medium/Hard Select label to make note retrieval fast and to drive a review loop until difficult material becomes easy.
3
Write notes freely first, then edit after class by adding headings, callouts, and supporting files so the table of contents becomes a learning and navigation tool.
4
Use TickTick for tasks and scheduling because it offers a calendar view and recurring events that Notion lacks for this purpose.
5
Set up TickTick with Personal and College folders, class lists, and tags (Class, Study, Assignments) to keep the system simple and usable.
6
Build a semester calendar by adding class events, syllabus assignments, and personal routine blocks, then schedule study sessions into the gaps.
7
Adapt study-session length and timing to the student’s real focus and memorization pace; consistency matters more than forcing a universal template.

Highlights

Notion notes are organized for long-term retrieval: one subject page, semester-based databases, and a difficulty label that guides review until material becomes “Easy.”

TickTick is chosen as the task engine because its calendar and recurring scheduling are treated as essential for planning classes and study sessions.

The table of contents isn’t just formatting—it’s used as a learning step that clarifies how topics connect.

The schedule starts with personal routines, then fills remaining time with study sessions—no one-size-fits-all formula is imposed.

Complexity is discouraged: add upgrades only after the basic system works reliably. 

Topics

College Notes
Notion Databases
TickTick Scheduling
Study Review
Task Management